March 11th, 2026
by Jim McRae
by Jim McRae
Luke 15:20 (KJV)
The story of the prodigal son is one of the clearest pictures of God’s grace in the entire Bible. A young man demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and wastes everything in reckless living. Eventually he finds himself alone, hungry, and ashamed.
In desperation, he decides to return home. Yet he expects rejection. He hopes only to become a servant in his father’s household.
But before he can even reach the house, the father sees him in the distance. Instead of waiting for the son to approach, the father runs to meet him. In the culture of that time, dignified men did not run. Yet the father runs, embraces his son, and welcomes him home with joy.
This powerful image reveals the heart of God. When we turn toward Him in repentance, He does not respond with condemnation or coldness. He responds with compassion.
Lent reminds us that repentance is not about shame—it is about restoration. God’s grace meets us before we can fully explain ourselves.
No matter how far we have wandered, the path home is always open. God’s love reaches farther than our failures.
Today, remember that God welcomes you with open arms. His grace invites you to live in the freedom of forgiveness.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for welcoming me with love and forgiveness. Help me live in the joy of Your grace. Amen.
“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
The story of the prodigal son is one of the clearest pictures of God’s grace in the entire Bible. A young man demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and wastes everything in reckless living. Eventually he finds himself alone, hungry, and ashamed.
In desperation, he decides to return home. Yet he expects rejection. He hopes only to become a servant in his father’s household.
But before he can even reach the house, the father sees him in the distance. Instead of waiting for the son to approach, the father runs to meet him. In the culture of that time, dignified men did not run. Yet the father runs, embraces his son, and welcomes him home with joy.
This powerful image reveals the heart of God. When we turn toward Him in repentance, He does not respond with condemnation or coldness. He responds with compassion.
Lent reminds us that repentance is not about shame—it is about restoration. God’s grace meets us before we can fully explain ourselves.
No matter how far we have wandered, the path home is always open. God’s love reaches farther than our failures.
Today, remember that God welcomes you with open arms. His grace invites you to live in the freedom of forgiveness.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for welcoming me with love and forgiveness. Help me live in the joy of Your grace. Amen.
Posted in LENT
Jim McRae
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Lent Day 3: Matthew 4:1–2Lent Day 12 - Psalm 150:1-6Lent Day 11 - John 4:13-14Lent Day 10 - 1 Kings 18 and 19Lent Day 9 - Jeremiah 2:8Lent Day 8 - John 1:38–39Lent Day 7 - Luke 5:10–11Lent Day 6 - Luke 5:10–11Lent Day 5 - Matthew 4:10–11Lent Day 4 - Matthew 4:4Lent Day 1: Joel 2:12–13Lent Day 2: Psalm 51:1–2
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Lent Day 13 - Ezekiel 37:4-10Lent Day 14 - Mark 8:27-30Lent Day 15 - Mark 8:34Lent Day 17 - John 6:35Lent Day 16 - Luke 10:33Lent Day 18 - Luke 15:20Lent Day 24 - John 12:24Lent Day 29 - John 13:14Lent Day 28 - John 13:1Lent Day 27 - Mark 12:30Lent Day 26 - Matthew 21:13Lent Day 25 - Luke 19:41Lent Day 19 - John 8:12Lent Day 23 - Matthew 20:26-28Lent Day 22 - Matthew 16:16Lent Day 21 - John 11:25Lent Day 20 - John 10:11
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